Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Mount Kilimanjaro Tours Mean Anyone Can Climb Africa's Highest Mountain

By Grace Daniels


Although it may surprise some people, Mount Kilimanjaro tours actually provide relatively ordinary people with the chance to climb one of the world's iconic peaks. 'Kili' is Africa's highest mountain, and a National Park has been centred on it since 1977. Booking a visit to this legendary east African peak is a super way of adding some real adventure to your life.

Despite there being a National Park surrounding the mountain, the real focus here is on the mountain scenery rather than the wildlife. There is wildlife to be found here though, especially in the rainforest on the lower slopes of Kili, and leopard and buffalo are among the larger of the mammals which lurk among the trees, though they are very shy indeed. Birds though dwell here in great numbers, with species such as the white-necked raven existing in large numbers.

Mammals mainly congregate in the forest zones of the mountain, and so are harder to spot. There are several species of monkey, which often dwell close to humans so that they can scavenge. Larger mammals such as eland, serval or leopard are very hard to find though.

One mammal which all visitors should avoid as much as possible is the honey badger, which is Africa's fiercest mammal relative to its size. Even lions will not tangle with this kind of badger, such is its ferocity. Bush pigs also wander the forested zones, though nowadays the presence of so many people on the mountain means that all mammals, from mice to buffalo, are very shy indeed.

The scenery is the real reason that many people come to the mountain though, as well as the chance to scale a truly iconic peak. Although there is no need for specialist skills and equipment, anyone who wants to attempt to climb the peak should ensure that they are in good physical shape. You do need to be aerobically very fit to scale the summit.

The summit of the mountain is located at a height of 5896 metres, which makes it the highest mountain in Africa, and also one of the highest volcanoes in the world. It is the largest free-standing mountain peak in the world too, with no range of sibling mountains surrounding it. The journey up the mountain is rendered even more interesting by the different climate and landscape zones which the trails pass through.

After beginning a trek in the lowland farmlands which surround the mountain, visitors will then trek through the lush rainforest zone, where much of the mountain's wildlife is located. They will then pass through alpine meadows as they climb higher, a zone where few animals apart from birds and small rodents dwell. Nearer the summit, there is a lunar landscape of barren craters to be negotiated.

If you want to climb one of the world's tallest mountains, then Mount Kilimanjaro tours are a great way of doing it. While you need to be in god physical conditions, you do not need the technical equipment and specialist skills required to conquer the world's other iconic peaks. Any adventure to this part of Africa might also be rewarded with a rare glimpse of some special wildlife too.




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